THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 169 



Sir Richard John Griffith, who was created a 

 baronet in 1858, was born in 1784, and, having 

 served a short time in the army, commenced to learn 

 practical mining in Cornwall. He was always in- 

 terested in agriculture, and in the subject of land 

 valuation, with which his name will ever be associated 

 in Ireland. He studied for some time in Edinburgh, 

 and on returning to this country in 1808, made a 

 survey of the coalfields of Leinster. Griffith then 

 became engineer to the Commission on Irish Bogs, 

 which published valuable reports, and in 1812 was 

 appointed mining engineer and professor of geology 

 to the Dublin Society. He also succeeded Dr. Richard 

 Kirwan as government inspector of mines in Ireland. 

 Between 1822 and 1830, it is said that, under his 

 superintendence, some 250 miles of road were con- 

 structed or improved in the wildest and most inacces- 

 sible parts of the country. In 1827, Griffith was 

 appointed Commissioner of Valuation in Ireland, under 

 the Act 7th George IV, a post which he held until 

 1868. From 1850 to 1864, he acted as chairman of 

 the Board of Public Works. So great was the con- 

 fidence reposed in this remarkable man, that there was 

 hardly a work of public importance undertaken in 

 this country, from about 1830 until his retirement 

 into private life, on which he was not asked to give 

 his opinion. His magnum opus the Geological Map 

 of Ireland which took its final form in 1855, will 

 always remain a monument of his industry and ability. 

 Sir Richard Griffith published a number of scientific 

 works, and all the reports made by him during his 

 official connection with the Society will be found in 

 the printed Proceedings. A marble bust of him stands 

 in the reception-room in Leinster House. 



